The Division on Addictions' BBGS e-Screener and Intervention System

Recognizing Gambling-related Problems

Brief screens can help people decide whether to seek formal evaluation of their gambling behavior. You can find one recent screen, the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS)*, below. The 3-item BBGS is based on the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for pathological gambling. Following the BBGS, please indicate how you feel right now about your gambling by clicking below the statement that best describes your feelings.

Please answer all questions.

Please answer "yes" or "no" to the following questions:

Yes

No

During the past 12 months, have you become restless irritable or anxious when trying to stop/cut down on gambling?

During the past 12 months, have you tried to keep your family or friends from knowing how much you gambled?

During the past 12 months did you have such financial trouble as a result of your gambling that you had to get help with living expenses from family, friends or welfare?

Readiness to Reduce Gambling Behavior

On the line below, please select the option that best describes how you feel right now:

Sometimes I think about gambling less.

I have decided to gamble less.

I am already trying to cut back on my gambling.

I changed my gambling. I now do not gamble, or gamble less than before.

Results

According to this screen, currently, you might not be experiencing gambling-related problems. You also indicated that you don’t think about reducing your gambling behavior very much. Maybe you don’t gamble. However, if you do, it is important to know that all people who gamble are at some risk for developing or experiencing gambling-related problems. About 1% of adults and 5% of college students report that they have experienced a severe gambling-related problem during their lifetime.

According to this screen, currently, you might not be experiencing gambling-related problems. However, you also indicated that you have been thinking about reducing your gambling behavior. All people who gamble are at some risk for developing or experiencing gambling-related problems. About 1% of adults and 5% of college students report that they have experienced a severe gambling-related problem during their lifetime. Because you are interested in reducing your gambling behavior, you might want to do a more detailed self-assessment of your gambling behavior. The online resource, Your First Step to Change, contains a variety of self-assessment tools and change-related resources that you might find useful.

According to this screen, currently, you might not be experiencing gambling-related problems. However, you also indicated that you have decided to reduce your gambling behavior. All people who gamble are at some risk for developing or experiencing gambling-related problems. About 1% of adults and 5% of college students report that they have experienced a severe gambling-related problem during their lifetime. Because you are interested in reducing your gambling behavior, you might want to do a more detailed self-assessment of your gambling behavior. The online resource, Your First Step to Change, contains a variety of self-assessment tools and change-related resources that you might find useful.

According to this screen, currently, you might not be experiencing gambling-related problems. However, you also indicated that you recently reduced, or currently are trying to reduce your gambling behavior. The decision to gamble, reduce your gambling, or just stop gambling, is yours. If you want to reduce your gambling behavior more or maintain your reduced gambling behavior, you can. If you feel good about your decision to reduce your gambling or plan to reduce your gambling, you might want some tools that will help you maintain or extend the changes you recently made to your gambling.

It might help to think about what you want your gambling behavior to be during the next few months. To help you, you might want to use the online resource, Your First Step to Change. Your First Step to Change contains a variety of self-assessment tools and change-related resources that you might find useful.

In any event, since you recently reduced, or are trying to reduce your gambling, you might want to consider limiting your exposure to gambling. You could limit your exposure to gambling by avoiding gambling venues, like casinos, and websites. You also might want to hang out with people who do not push you to gamble. Consider filling your time with enjoyable activities that don’t involve gambling.

Answering "yes" to one of the previous questions indicates that, currently, you are at increased risk for developing or experiencing gambling-related problems. You are not alone. About 1% of adults and 5% of college students report that they have experienced a severe gambling-related problem during their lifetime. Gambling-related problems can take a variety of forms, including money problems, relationship problems, health problems, school problems, and more.

You also indicated that you don't think about reducing your gaming behaviour very much. The decision to game, reduce your gaming or simply stop gaming is yours. If you want to change your gaming behaviour, you can.

Answering "yes" to one of the previous questions indicates that, currently, you are at increased risk for developing or experiencing gambling-related problems. You are not alone. About 1% of adults and 5% of college students report that they have experienced a severe gambling-related problem during their lifetime. Gambling-related problems can take a variety of forms, including money problems, relationship problems, health problems, school problems, and more.

You also indicated that you are thinking about reducing your gambling behavior. The decision to gamble, reduce your gambling, or just stop gambling, is yours. If you want to change your gambling behavior, you can. To help you make your decision and, if you choose, to help you reduce your gambling, you might want to do a more detailed self-assessment of your gambling behavior. The online resource, Your First Step to Change contains a variety of self-assessment tools and change-related resources that you might find useful.

Answering "yes" to one of the previous questions indicates that, currently, you are at increased risk for developing or experiencing gambling-related problems. You are not alone. About 1% of adults and 5% of college students report that they have experienced a severe gambling-related problem during their lifetime. Gambling-related problems can take a variety of forms, including money problems, relationship problems, health problems, school problems, and more.

You also indicated that you have decided to reduce your gambling behavior. The decision to gamble, reduce your gambling, or just stop gambling, is yours. If you want to change your gambling behavior, you can. To help you make your decision and, if you choose, to help you reduce your gambling, you might want to do a more detailed self-assessment of your gambling behavior. The online resource, Your First Step to Change contains a variety of self-assessment tools and change-related resources that you might find useful.

Answering "yes" to one of the previous questions indicates that, currently, you are at increased risk for developing or experiencing gambling-related problems. You are not alone. About 1% of adults and 5% of college students report that they have experienced a severe gambling-related problem during their lifetime. Gambling-related problems can take a variety of forms, including money problems, relationship problems, health problems, school problems, and more.

You also indicated that you recently reduced or currently are trying to reduce your gambling behavior. The decision to gamble, reduce your gambling, or just stop gambling, is yours. If you want to reduce your gambling behavior or maintain your reduced gambling behavior, you can. It might help to think about what you want your behavior to look like during the next few months, whether gambling is involved or not. To help you, you might want to use the online resource, Your First Step to Change. Your First Step to Change contains a variety of self-assessment tools and change-related resources that you might find useful.

In any event, since you recently reduced, or are trying to reduce your gambling, you might want to consider limiting your exposure to gambling. You could limit your exposure to gambling by avoiding gambling venues, like casinos, and websites. You also might want to hang out with people who do not push you to gamble. Consider filling your time with enjoyable activities that don’t involve gambling.

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